Chapter 19

When I see her name flash up on my cell, I can’t help but feel the waves of excitement rush over me. She does that to me lately. She gets me excited in such a way... well lets just say that I had given up hope a long time ago that I would feel like this for someone else again.

In exactly two weeks time I’ll be turning fifty and to think the thought of this filled me with dread at the beginning of the year... I guess if I’m totally honest with myself I was fearful... fearful of aging without ever feeling the love of a woman intimately again...

Now I’m feeling optimistic... now I know I have a woman for company when the nights get too much to bear... now I have someone to have fun with and hold onto in addition to my children...now I can feel satisfied physically without the feelings of remorse and guilt taking over...

I get a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach when a strange woman answers the affectionate greeting I usually give to my girl and she then proceeds to tell me that my lady is in a bad way! A bad way? What the hell does that mean?

She then informs me that she thinks my girl has been drugged and that she’s keeping her company on the ladies room floor of the 40/40 club?

Immediately I realize that Ava has lied to me. She told me she’d be working til midnight so why the f**k is she out of her goddamn mind in a club that I know for a fact she can’t stand?

I realize that after I’ve barked orders at the woman called “Charlene” to stay with Ava and to not let her out of her sight until I get there and it's not until after I've hung up the phone; that my optimism from before has been completely dashed all in the space of two minutes.

All I can think of is that she’s lied to me. Why? The first thing that pops into my head is that she’s seeing someone else. My heartbreaks a little at this thought but if I’m honest with myself why the f**k wouldn’t she? I mean look at her... she’s still in her twenties, has youth on her side, she’s beautiful and sexy... she could have any man she desires so why is she with me? Me? A fifty year old single father who's seen better days!

I mean what reason did she have to lie to me about going out tonight to a night club if it wasn’t for the fact that maybe she’s cheating on me? Who in God’s green earth would want to drug her? Was it some guy she was seeing behind my back?

These thoughts are driving me insane and even if it turns out that she is cheating on me... well I still care about her... it hurts my heart to know that someone would do such an awful thing to another human being. I need to get to her... and fast. 


~~~~


On the car journey to the club I had BJ call up the manager of the 40/40 to let him know I’d be arriving shortly. The club was actually owned by my good friend Jay-Z and his chief of staff Ramon always hooked me up when I dropped by.

I also wanted Ramon to know what was going on inside his club and to keep an eye out for Ava. I didn’t want the police or paramedics called if we could avoid it.

I had Big Mike stay back at the house and secure the place because the kids were sound asleep. I also told him to make himself busy by getting my physician Dr. Ghanem to make a house call. I wanted him there waiting for us when I brought Ava home.

The longer it takes to get us to the club the angrier I get. I swear I could murder someone right now and I can feel the tension slowly building inside the pit of my stomach; I just hope I don’t blow up at nobody.

When we pull up to the backdoor after what seems like an eternity, I can already see Ramon propping open the rear exit waiting for our arrival.

Securing my hoody up over my baseball cap and wearing my aviators as a disguise, I anxiously jump out of the car and head straight towards him. By the look on his face I can tell it’s bad news.

“Hey Mike” he says soberly as he grips my arm and pats my back “I really don’t know how this happened but I promise you some heads are gunna roll tonight.” 

“Is she that bad” is all I can manage to say as we proceed to make or way inside.

Thankfully the bathrooms are located near the rear exit so I don’t have to venture that far into the club. I see that Ramon has set up some barricade with some metal poles with red rope sectioning this part of the club off from patrons. I’m also thankful to see he has some security standing vigil at the barricade, so at least no one will see me enter the ladies room and more importantly carry Ava out.

With no forewarning of how bad the scene inside the bathroom actually is, I push the door open and before I can be debriefed by Ramon the stench of puke instantly hits my nostrils.

I think I literally feel my heart break when I see Ava lying on the floor, her body in the recovery position with a blanket thrown over her. I see a plumpish looking lady with bright yellow hair sat on the floor next to my girl and she’s rubbing Ava’s arm as though the friction will keep her warm or something.

Removing my aviators I crouch down beside the yellow haired woman. I feel the tears spring to my eyes as I study Ava’s features and see how abnormally pale she is.

I bring the back of my hand up to her open mouth just to check that she is indeed still breathing. I sometimes do this every now and then to my kids when I fail to see their chest rising and falling during sleep. I guess I’m ever the worrying parent but right now doing this simple thing, well it brings me great relief when I feel her faint breaths tickle my skin.

Her hair is a tangled mess and I can see remnants of dried puke on the strands of hair that are near to her face. Even though she looks cold to the touch, when I feel her head her skin is clammy and I can see that she’s been sweating.

She has wet stains on her cheeks from where my babygirl must’ve been crying and folding back the blanket I see vomit stains on her dress. The same dress that she wore the first night I met her.

Oh no... please God tell me she’s not here “working” working tonight.

Breaking my gaze away from the broken girl lying before me, I look up to see the yellow haired lady practically hyperventilating at her recognition of who I am.

I can’t help but blush and I fear that any moment now the usual screams, cries and wails of admiration that usually follow whenever I see that glazed look on a fans face, will occur.

“Maam” I say softly “are you Charlene?” I hope she can keep it together so we can make this quick.

“Y-y-yeah” she stammers.

“I really don’t know how to thank you for helping my gir- uh my friend here tonight. You just may have saved her life” I say as I choke back on the words that have just vacated my mouth.

“Y-y-you-you’re welcome” she says shyly. She didn’t sound this shy on the phone. In fact I’m pretty sure she had flirted with me a little after I had mistakenly called her my babygirl.

“Uh Mr. Jackson” I hear Bill say “I think we should get going. You want me to carry her out?” he asks with concern.

“No” I refuse his offer flatly “just make sure nobody gets in my way” I say as I secure the hood of my sweater back over my cap, place my sunglasses back on and crouch down to scoop Ava’s limp body into my arms.

Once I have my girl in the safety of my clutches, I ask Ramon to get Charlene’s details so that I can thank her properly once tonight is over and done with.

I know she hears me but she remains silent as she affectionately secures the blanket around Ava’s body covering up her dignity and I see that she has tears in her eyes.

They’re not for me but for the lifeless body of my girl that I’m holding onto for dear life.

I see nothing but compassion in Charlene’s eyes and I thank her once again before we exit the ladies room and make our way back to the car.

With her body still in my arms I cradle her head in the crook of my right arm and smooth her cheek with my left hand as I rock her back and forth to the melody that I’m humming.

"At least she’s still breathing ~ that’s the main thing" is all I can think right now.

I pray to Jehovah that Dr. Ghanem is already at the house and that my girl is going to be okay. The anger and bitterness that had me gripped in its clutches earlier, appears to have dissolved and all I can think about is looking into those emerald eyes when she awakes form this awful nightmare.

“Stay with me baby” I hear a voice inside me silently beg “stay with me” I hear myself say this time aloud.

“I love you baby girl stay with me.” I will her with my head and my heart to stay with me. I don’t think I could bear losing her now that I’ve found her. 

I find myself singing to her “where did you go when things went wrong now baby....who did you run to and find a shoulder to lay your head upon.... baby, wasn’t I there... didn’t I take good care of you....I can’t believe you’re leaving me... stay with me baby...”

I feel the wetness of the tears streak my face as I feel her body shake in reaction to whatever sh!t is coursing through her veins.

Thankfully we pull into the driveway of the house in no time at all, just as her body starts to jerk wildly. Her fitting body is scaring the hell out of me but I breathe a small sigh of relief when I see Dr. Ghanem standing outside the house with Big Mike awaiting our return.

As I exit the car I thank the Doctor for his speedy arrival as I hastily enter the house with Ava still clutched in my arms to avoid prying eyes. I hate this house with a passion. Yeah it may be beautiful and grand but it’s a nightmare security wise. On countless occasions we’ve caught paparazzo’s camping out in the surrounding trees just hoping to get s shot of me or the children. A picture of me carrying a drugged up woman is definitely not something I need circulating in the press right now.

In the safety of the living room I gently lay Ava on the sofa and step away, giving Dr. Ghanem room to check her over.

Silently pacing back and forth, I remove my disguise and I wait patiently for the verdict as the good Doctor checks her vitals. I watch him sit beside her lifeless body and him leaning in to listen to her heart through his stethoscope as he then lifts her wrist to check her pulse. He opens her eyes and checks her pupils with his penlight and then re-fixes the blanket before he stands up to make his way over to me.

“Is she gon’ be okay” I say trying to hold back my tears that are threatening to break free at any given moment.

Dr. Gnaem make a whooshing sound before he says “I’d say she’s been drugged Mr. Jackson. I mean I can’t be one hundred percent positive without taking blood samples but there’s no way alcohol alone would cause her heart rate to slow down as much as it has and with only two drinks you say?”

He’s referring to the information that Ava had told Charlene before she had got a hold of me. I know for a fact that two drinks alone would not leave Ava rendered in this state.

Admittedly she’s not that into alcohol but I’ve seen her enjoy more than two glasses of wine before and she hasn’t ended up in this god forsaken state.

I feel the bile rise to my throat as I think about the type of scum bag who would do such a thing to my woman.

“Why would anyone do this” I hear myself say aloud.

Obviously thinking my question wasn’t rhetorical I hear the Dr. say matter of factly “Well Mr. Jackson it’s not a rare thing nowadays for women to have their drinks spiked on nights out and normally it is with the intention of rape.”

The reality of the situation starts to kick in as I feel the wetness begin to seep out of my eyes and trickles down my cheeks.

“She’s gonna be okay though right doc?” I hear Javon ask. I look up to see my security detail have been stood in the doorway this whole time and the genuine look of concern on their faces touches my heart dearly.

“I know you said that you wanted to keep this quiet but taking her to the hospital where they can keep observations on her is probably the wise thing to do Mr. Jackson...”

“She probably just needs to sleep it off right?” I butt in. I really don’t want to let her out of my sight and if the Doctor says its safe for me to keep her here, without getting “outside” people involved then that's just what I’m willing to do.

“Her vitals are steady Mr. Jackson so there’s no dire concern for her to go to hospital but that would be the wise decision” he says once again.

“Dr. could you possibly stay the night ya know just in case?” I ask with anticipation.

“I’ll make it worth your while its just... well... I really want to contain this situation as much as possible and if you say its safe to keep her here, then as long as you’re here in case we need you...” I ramble on trying my best to convince him to stay.

“We have plenty of guest rooms and we may not even need to call on you and I promise I’ll make it worth you’re while...”

“Okay Mr. Jackson” he cuts me off “you’ve been a very good client to me over the past couple of years; I’ll stay if it eases your mind. My rates will be the same as I would normally charge you though and I just need to make a few phone calls if that’s okay with you?”

“Yes yes of course. Thank you Doctor, thank you so much. One of the guys will show you to your room when you’re ready” I say as I find myself shaking his hand in relief.

I watch the Doctor retrieve his bag and then he slips out of the room and immediately my eyes are brought back to Ava.

Making my way over to the sofa, I sit next to her unconscious body and push the fallen strands of hair away from her face. She looks so peaceful right now and it appears that her shaking has subsided. Right now you would swear that she was sleeping and not drugged out of her mind. I bend my head forwards and place a lingering kiss on her lips. I smooth my thumb over her eyebrow and caress her stained cheeks.

“Uh do you need us for anything else tonight Mr. Jackson?” I hear Javon inquire.

Once again forgetting about their presence, his question breaks me free from my trance.

“Could you just show Dr. Ghanem to one of the spare rooms when he’s ready?” I say with a sigh.

“No problem sir and if ya need anything else, we’ll be in the security trailer outside. We have our cells phones on so shout at us if you need anything at all” he says before quietly exiting the room and pulling the door shut behind him.

Finally alone with my lady, I get up to retrieve the waste paper basket in the corner of the room and position it near Ava’s head just in case she throws up again.

Kicking off my shoes, I crawl over Ava’s body to curl up behind her in a spooning position. I hug her body close to me, holding onto her for dear life and I find her hand beneath the blanket to lace her fingers within mine... and then I wait and... I pray.